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| Electronic Instrument Panel |
| Examine the Electronic Instrument Panel. The LCD
display should have the same amount of light present across the
entire display. (i.e. no part of the display is darker than any
other). If not the case, one or more of the four very expensive
bulbs in the instrument panel is burned out. The labor involved
to replace even one bulb costs a minimum of $100 and all four
will cost $200 or more. Observe that there is a trip odometer
mileage reading, remaining range and average MPG reading available
for display on the Electronic Instrument Display. If not, there
are problems with the unit and a potential repair bill of several
hundred dollars. (You must verify this later to be certain as
will be explained below). |
| Lights |
| Turn on the parking lights as and operate the headlamp
switch. Check that both headlights rotate to the up position.
Leave the lights on for now. Block the photocell on the digital
dash (it's the small, clear window above the speedometer at about
11 o'clock) and rotate the dimmer knob on the headlamp switch.
The instrument panel should dim. If not, that's another big repair
bill to make it work. Exit the vehicle and have the owner/dealer
operate the bright/dim headlamp control as well as the turn signals.
Do all the external lamps work (including the cornering lights
when the turn signal lights are flashing)? |
| Air Conditioner and Radio |
| Return to the vehicle and turn on the air conditioner
and radio. Place the headlamps on high beam. Switch the coolant
temp/volts switch to volts and observe the reading. A reading
of less than 11.5 volts with this load indicates potential alternator/battery
problems. Turn off headlamps and parking lamps. Adjust the air
conditioner and verify that it produces cold air. If the controller
is the electronic variety, set the temperature to the lowest setting
(press the cool button until the display will not indicate any
lower) and observe that the A/C fan goes into its highest setting.
Then press the warm button until the fan speed drops back. Observe
the indicated reference temperature and determine if you agree
that the setting approximately matches the actual ambient temperature
in the vehicle. If so, the controller and A/C appear to be OK.
Turn the radio off. Check that the antenna retracts. Turn it back
on and verify the antenna fully extends and that the radio works
on both the AM and FM band plus make certain that all speakers
work. You should be able to place the volume control to 1/2 to
3/4 fully clockwise and the speakers should not distort the sound.
The engine should be at or near operating temperature. |
| Oil and temperature gauges |
| Check the idle oil pressure and temperature plus
the coolant temperature. (If they are not at operating temperature
yet, check them later but do make sure the sensors are giving
you an output. Note that you will get a red warning light if the
oil pressure is low. It should never be low except at the instant
of startup and then only for a second or so). Exit the vehicle
and (if an automatic) pull the transmission dipstick. Make certain
the transmission fluid is at a proper level. If the car is a manual
transmission, have the owner/dealer slowly engage the clutch while
you listen for any chattering sound or observe any tendency for
the car to lurch as the clutch is slowly engaged which may indicate
a slipping clutch. |
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